Media Release
Sharing the Stage in 2026/27 Season:
Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra, FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre and Ballet BC
May 21, 2026... Hope Muir, Joan and Jerry Lozinski Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, shared today that in celebration of the company’s 75th anniversary season, the 2026/27 season will feature three Sharing the Stage initiatives, with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra, FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre in St. Catharines and Ballet BC in Vancouver.
“As we celebrate our 75th anniversary, The National Ballet of Canada is deepening our commitment to Sharing the Stage. Across the country, we are building partnerships that allow us to exchange ideas, support one another and bring ballet to more communities. I am delighted to collaborate with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra, FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre and Ballet BC in this milestone year,” said Muir.
Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra
September 19, 2026
Second Soloist Keaton Leier returns to his hometown of Saskatoon to curate a special evening with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra on September 19, 2026. The performance will feature National Ballet artists performing a selection of works from the traditional and contemporary repertoire to music performed by the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra, led by conductor Judith Yan.
FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre
October 24, 2026
The National Ballet will perform for the first time ever at St. Catharines’ FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre’s SPARK Gala on October 24, 2026 in Patridge Hall, dancing the balcony pas de deux from John Cranko's Romeo and Juliet and The Future at 75, a special performance by The National Ballet of Canada RBC Apprentices.
Ballet BC
March 6, 2027
To mark both the National Ballet’s 75th anniversary and Ballet BC's 40th, two Principal Dancers will perform On the Nature of Daylight choreographed by Resident Choreographer David Dawson on the Ballet BC stage for two performances on March 6, 2027. The moving pas de deux is set to music by world renowned composer Max Richter and will be performed for the first time since its Canadian premiere at MAD HOT BALLET in 2025.
About Sharing the Stage
Sharing the Stage first began with outdoor performances at Harbourfront Centre featuring such companies as Compañía Carmen Romero, Esie Mensah Creations, Holla Jazz, Human Body Expression, Little Pear Garden Dance Company, Lua Shayenne Dance Company, Rock Bottom Movement, Samantha Sutherland and Tanveer Alam. The programme expanded to include a performance with Nova Dance in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts and Rainbow on Mars, a collaboration with Outside the March and Peripheral Theatre, at the Ada Slaight Hall at Daniels Spectrum. The 75th anniversary will mark the first time Sharing the Stage will be presented nationally.
The National Ballet of Canada’s 75th anniversary season opens in Toronto at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts with the full presentation of John Cranko's Romeo and Juliet onstage October 31 – November 8, 2026, followed by a double bill of Emergence by Crystal Pite and Silent Screen by Sol León and Paul Lightfoot onstage November 13 – 20, 2026.
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The RBC Apprentice Programme is sponsored by RBC.
This production of Romeo and Juliet entered the repertoire of The National Ballet of Canada on February 8, 1995 and was totally underwritten by Walter Carsen, O.C.
Lead philanthropic support for the 2027 revitalization of Romeo and Juliet is provided by Laura Dinner & Richard Rooney and production underwriters Mary & John Crocker.
Lead philanthropic support for Emergence (2009) is generously provided by Gail Hutchison. Additional support is provided by The Sabourin Family Foundation (2027).
Lead philanthropic support for Silent Screen is provided by an Anonymous Donor. Additional support is provided by The Producers’ Circle (2025).
The National Ballet of Canada’s Education and Community Engagement programmes are generously supported by the Anna McCowan-Johnson Dance Accessibility Fund at The National Ballet of Canada, Endowment Foundation.
Keaton Leier is sponsored through Dancers First by Donald & Suzanne Kopas.
The National Ballet of Canada gratefully acknowledges the ongoing support of the Canada Council for the Arts; the Ontario Arts Council; the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council; the Government of Canada – Department of Canadian Heritage with the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages; and the Government of Ontario with the Honourable Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming and Minister of Sport.
For more information and interview opportunities, please contact:
Touchwood PR
Andréa Grau, Founder and OwnerChelsea Cabello, Senior PublicistSydney Clarke, Publicist
NBOC@touchwoodpr.com
The National Ballet of Canada
Catherine Chang, Associate Director of Communications & Content Strategy
Sarah Johnsen, Interim Communications Manager
Media@national.ballet.ca